Active site marketing vehicle wash component

ABSTRACT

A vehicle wash system disposed in a vehicle wash facility includes a plurality of vehicle wash components disposed adjacent a vehicle treatment area. The system includes plurality of lights to be disposed in the vehicle wash facility. Each of the lights is configured with at least a first state and in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to enable the first state of the plurality of lights when no vehicles are present in the vehicle wash facility. When the first state is enabled, the plurality of lights are configured to emit light in a preprogrammed pattern of different colors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/687,704, entitled “Vehicle Wash Package Selection ConfirmationSystem”, filed on Apr. 15, 2015, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/045,208 entitled “VehicleWash Package Selection Confirmation System”, filed Sep. 3, 2014, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as though setforth fully herein

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a vehicle wash system fortreating an exterior surface of a vehicle. More specifically, thepresent disclosure relates to a vehicle wash system for treating anexterior surface of a vehicle that utilizes computer controlled lightswhen no vehicles are being treated by the system to promote variousvehicle wash services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle wash systems have become a common way for vehicle owners toquickly and efficiently have their vehicles cleaned without having towash and clean them by hand. Depending upon how dirty the vehicle is,the level of cleanliness the vehicle owner seeks to achieve, and theamount of money the vehicle owner is willing to spend, there are avariety of different types of vehicle wash systems with differentservice options available to meet those needs. For example, full servicevehicle wash systems provide vehicle operators with both interior andexterior vehicle cleaning services. These are generally the mostexpensive type of vehicle wash systems. Self-service type vehicle washsystems offer vehicle owners a less expensive option for cleaning theirvehicles. However, with these types of systems, vehicle owners mustoperate the equipment themselves to clean the interior and/or exteriorof their vehicles. The most common type of vehicle wash systems arethose that offer automated exterior vehicle cleaning services only andwhich are often embodied as conveyerized tunnel systems or roll overmachines. In terms of price, these last types of vehicle wash systemsare generally priced in between the other two types of vehicle washsystems.

Each of the above-described vehicle wash systems typically presentsvehicle owners with a variety of different cleaning and treatmentoptions and services for varying fees. For example, most vehicle washsystems (whether full service or conventional) generally offer vehicleowners a basic wash package that consists of treating a vehicle exteriorwith conventional cleaning services. This basic wash package isgenerally provided for a base fee and is often referred to as a regularor base wash. For customers that want additional treatments or servicesto be performed on their vehicle, many vehicle wash systems offer anupgraded package that includes additional services for payment of anincreased fee, such as an under body wash or a tire shine. Othercustomers may want the “works” and many vehicle wash systems offer astill further upgraded package which includes all of its premiumservices. The additional services in these upgraded packages, which areoften referred to as premium packages, can include an under body rustinhibitor or a tire polish. The premium packages are generally availableat a fee that is higher than any of the other packages available.

As is known, the environment in vehicle wash systems is generally darkwith little light and thus visibility for vehicle owners is usually verypoor. Couple this with the fact that the vehicle windows are usuallycovered with soap and water during the vehicle wash process and it isvery difficult for vehicle owners to see if the options they requestedand paid for are being applied to their vehicle. This is true, even ifthey know what they are looking for. Consequently, it is not uncommonfor a vehicle owner to select and pay for one package and have the washsystem provide a different package. This can occur through inadvertententry of the package selection into the controller by a washowner/operator or improper intent on the part of the operator of thevehicle wash system to pocket the difference between the package paidfor and that provided. As this practice is known to occur and it isdifficult to rectify after the fact, some vehicle owners are dissuadedfrom purchasing packages with additional services for fear that thoseservices will not be provided. This has resulted in a significant lossof revenue for the car wash industry.

It is also known that vehicle wash owners have historically keptadvertising costs down in order to justify charging less for vehiclewash services. Thus, most wash owners have spent very little onpromoting its services. Moreover, to the extent vehicle wash owners haveattempted to market and promote their wash services, such efforts havebeen generally ineffective.

It would thus be desirable to provide a method and system that overcomesthese disadvantages with existing vehicle wash systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehiclewash system that provides a higher quality wash service for vehicleowners.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle washsystem that is more attractive to customers and prospective customers.

It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle wash system that provides a perception of high quality tocustomers and prospective customers.

It is still a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle wash system that provides a more enjoyable vehicle washexperience for customers.

It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehiclewash system that provides visual confirmation to vehicle occupants thatthe wash system is providing the services they selected and paid for aspart of the wash process.

It is still yet another aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle wash system that yields improved aesthetics within a vehiclewash facility.

It is yet a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle wash system that provides improved diagnostic information to avehicle wash operator to facilitate efficient operation of the system.

It is still yet a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle wash system that can assist in increased revenue generation.

It is still yet a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle wash system that can assist with marketing of the vehicle washfacility.

In accordance with the above and the other aspects of the presentdisclosure, an improved vehicle wash system for a vehicle wash facilityis provided. The vehicle wash system includes a plurality of vehiclewash components disposed adjacent a vehicle treatment area. The systemincludes a plurality of lights disposed in the vehicle wash facilitywith each of the lights having a first state and a second state. Each ofthe plurality of lights is in communication with a controller, which isconfigured to enable the first state of the plurality of lights when oneor more vehicles are present in the vehicle wash facility and furtherconfigured to enable the second state of the plurality of lights when novehicles are present in the vehicle wash facility. When the second stateis enabled, the plurality of lights are configured to emit light in apreprogrammed pattern of different colors. The second state is differentthan the first state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle wash system having aplurality of vehicle wash components in accordance with an aspect of thedisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lighted top brush for a vehicle washsystem in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lighted side brush for a vehicle washsystem in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a foam generation device for a vehiclewash system in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a delivery nozzle for the foamgeneration device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an illuminated sign for a vehicle washsystem in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary package menu sign for a vehicle wash system inaccordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of operating avehicle wash system according to an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of operating avehicle wash system according to another aspect of the disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of operating avehicle wash system according to a further aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle washsystem 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 may be configured as atunnel car wash, where a vehicle 12 is conveyed through the wash processby a conveyor or the like as is known in the art. Alternatively, thevehicle wash system 10 may be configured as a roll-over type where thevehicle 12 remains stationary and wash components move with respect tothe vehicle 12 to perform the vehicle wash process. Other suitable washprocesses and systems may also be employed. It will be appreciated thatthe disclosed system could also be employed in connection with a varietyof other vehicle wash systems including, full service, manual orself-serve wash processes.

According to an aspect, the vehicle wash system 10 may be housed withina vehicle wash facility 14 having an entrance end 16 where a vehicleenters and an exit end 18 where the vehicle leaves. According to afurther aspect, the vehicle wash system 10 may also include a variety ofvehicle wash components that engage and/or treat the exterior of thevehicle 12 as it passes through the vehicle wash facility 14 toeffectuate the vehicle wash process. For example, as illustrativelyshown in FIG. 1, the vehicle wash system 10 can include a rinse arch 20,which sprays water onto the vehicle. The system 10 can also include apair of wheel scrubbers 22 for cleaning vehicle wheels as well as thelower portion of a vehicle. Additionally, the system 10 may include atop wheel or brush 24 for cleaning an upper exterior surface of avehicle. Moreover, the system 10 can also include a bubble or foamdelivery device 26 that generates bubbles and emits them directly ontothe vehicle exterior.

According to another aspect, the system 10 can include one or more sidebrushes 28 for contacting side exterior surfaces of a vehicle and aplurality of wrap brushes 30 for contacting both front and back vehiclesurfaces. The system 10 can also include a drying section 32 forremoving water from the vehicle exterior. According to a further aspect,the system 10 can include a wheel polishing device 34. It will beappreciated that more, less or different wash components may be employedas part of the vehicle wash system. For example, the system 10 may alsoinclude components for treating the vehicle undercarriage, for applyingbody sealant, and for applying polish wax to the vehicle and/orperforming a variety of different functions. Additionally, multiples ofthe same components may be employed as part of the system as desired.Further, the components may take on a variety of differentconfigurations. Moreover, the order, placement and sequence of thecomponents within the system 10 may also vary. According to an aspect,the components may be designed to engage and/or treat the vehicle 12 asit is disposed within a vehicle treatment area 36 of the vehicle washfacility 14.

According to an aspect, the vehicle wash system 10 may include acontroller 38 that is in communication with all of the treatmentcomponents so that the system 10 may operate automatically undercomputer control. According to another aspect, the controller 38 may beemployed to direct the operation and timing of the vehicle washcomponents. For example, the controller 38 could signal certain vehiclecomponents to start operating as a vehicle approaches and then signalthem to shut down after the vehicle has passed. It will be appreciatedthat the vehicle wash system 10 could include a variety of sensors orsensing devices to track the location of the vehicles within the systemand communicate that information to the controller 38. It will also beappreciated that a computer, processor or other suitable control devicemay alternatively be employed to control the system and its components.According to further aspect, each of the vehicle wash components, i.e.,20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 utilized in the vehicle wash system 10can include a light source associated therewith, as discussed in moredetail below.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary top brush 24 in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure. The exemplary top brush 24 can includea frame 40 and a brush portion 42 supported by the frame 12. The topbrush 24 may be configured to span a vehicle treatment area 36 of avehicle wash facility 14 for treating a top exterior surface of avehicle 12. According to an aspect, the top brush 24 may be incommunication with a suitable drive mechanism 44, such as a motor, toeffectuate rotation thereof in order to perform a scrubbing or cleaningfunction to remove dirt or debris from the vehicle exterior. It will beappreciated that the disclosed top brush 24 can also perform otherfunctions besides cleaning.

According to an aspect, the top brush 24 can include a rotatable driveshaft 46 in communication with the drive mechanism 44. The top brush 24may include a plurality of wash media elements 50 coupled to therotatable drive shaft 46 such that they can rotate therewith. Thestructure and operation of this exemplary top brush 24 is described inmore detail in connection with Applicant's co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/456,636, entitled “Lighted Vehicle WashComponent”, which was filed Aug. 11, 2014, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference as though set forth fully herein. Itwill be appreciated that the top brush 24 may have a variety ofdifferent configurations.

According to a further aspect, the top brush 24 can include a pluralityof illumination elements 52 disposed thereon. According to one aspect,the illumination elements 52 may be disposed on the frame 40 of the topbrush 24. According to another aspect and with reference to FIG. 2, theillumination elements 52 may be disposed in an area between adjacentrows of wash media elements 50 such that the illumination elements 52rotate as the top brush 24 rotates and may be visible from the exteriorwhile it is rotating and while it is at rest. It will be appreciatedthat only one or multiple illumination elements 52 may be incorporatedinto the top brush 24. According to an aspect, the illumination elements52 may be individual LED light strips, each including a plurality ofindividual LEDs. According to another aspect, a variety of othersuitable illumination elements may be employed. It will also beappreciated that the illumination elements may be disposed in a varietyof suitable locations. According to a further aspect, the illuminationelements 52 may be located in multiple different locations on the topbrush 24.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary side brush 28 in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure. The exemplary side brush 28 caninclude a frame 60 and a brush portion 62 supported by the frame 60. Theside brush 28 may be configured to be disposed adjacent a vehicletreatment area 36 of a vehicle wash facility 14 for treating sideexterior surfaces of a vehicle 12. According to an aspect, the sidebrush 28 may be in communication with a suitable drive mechanism 64,such as a motor, to effectuate rotation thereof in order to perform ascrubbing or cleaning function to remove dirt or debris from a vehicleexterior. It will be appreciated that the disclosed side brush 28 canalso perform other functions besides cleaning. It will also beappreciated that side brushes may be disposed on either side of thevehicle treatment area 36 for contacting either side of the vehicle.

According to an aspect, the side brush 28 can include a rotatable driveshaft 66 in communication with the drive mechanism 64. A plurality ofhub portions 68 may be in communication with the drive shaft 66. The hubportions 68 may each have a plurality of wash media elements 70 securedthereto such that they rotate together with the rotatable drive shaft66. The structure and operation of this exemplary side brush 28 isdescribed in more detail in connection with Applicant's co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/474,817, entitled “Lighted Vehicle WashComponent”, which was filed on Sep. 2, 2014, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference as though set forth fully herein. Itwill be appreciated that the side brush 28 may have a variety ofdifferent configurations.

According to a further aspect, the side brush 28 can include a pluralityof illumination elements 72 disposed thereon. According to one aspect,the illumination elements 72 may be disposed on the frame 60 of the sidebrush 28. According to another aspect and with reference to FIG. 3, theillumination elements 72 may be disposed in an area between adjacentrows of wash media elements 70 such that the illumination elements 72may be visible from the exterior of the side brush 28 while it isrotating and while it is at rest. It will be appreciated that only oneor multiple illumination elements 72 may be incorporated into the sidebrush 28. According to an aspect, the illumination elements 72 may beindividual LED light strips, each including a plurality of individualLEDs. According to another aspect, a variety of other suitableillumination elements may be employed. It will also be appreciated thatthe illumination elements may be disposed in a variety of suitablelocations. According to a further aspect, the illumination elements 72may be located in multiple different locations on the side brush 28.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary bubble or foam delivery device 26 inaccordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The exemplarybubble or foam delivery device 26 can include a frame 80 and a pluralityof nozzle portions 82 supported on the frame 80. The bubble or foamdelivery device 26 may be configured to span a vehicle treatment area 36of a vehicle wash facility 14 for emitting fluid onto a top exteriorsurface of a vehicle 12. It will be appreciated that the disclosedbubble or foam delivery device 26 can be configured to emit a variety ofdifferent types and/or kinds of fluids, i.e., the device can emitbubbles instead of foam. An exemplary bubble delivery device 26 that maybe employed with the disclosed system is disclosed in Applicant'sco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/864,813, entitled “AVehicle Wash Component for Emitting Bubbles”, filed Apr. 17, 2013, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. It will beappreciated that a variety of other suitably configured devices may beemployed.

According to an aspect, the bubble or foam delivery device 26 mayinclude a plurality of illumination elements 84 that are incommunication with the device 26. According to an aspect, theillumination elements 84 may be disposed on the outside of the frame 80such as by various suitable securing means as will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art. According to another aspect, the frame 80may have a manifold housing 86 with a pair of end portions 88, 90. Themanifold housing 86 associated with one or both of the end portions 88,90 could be constructed of a translucent material and one or moreillumination elements 84 could be incorporated into the housing 86 suchthat end portions 88, 90 could light up when the illumination elementsare activated. A variety of different types of materials with differentcharacteristics could be employed to achieve this lighting effect. Forexample, the end portions could be constructed of an opaque material. Itwill be appreciated that more portions than the end portions 88, 90 ofthe manifold housing 86 could be configured to light up as desired. Infact, part of the manifold housing 86 could be configured as a lightpipe such that illumination elements 84 could be placed on one end andthe light pipe could convey light to other portions of the housing.According to an aspect, the illumination elements 84 may be one or moreLEDs that are configured to illuminate the end portions 88, 90.According to another aspect, a variety of other suitable types ofillumination elements may be employed.

According to another aspect and as best shown in FIG. 5, each of theplurality of nozzle portions 82 could include a cap portion 92 that maybe constructed of a translucent material. According to a further aspect,an illumination element 84 may be disposed within the interior of eachof the nozzle portions 82 to illuminate the cap portions 92 as desired.According to an aspect, the illumination elements 84 may be one or moreLEDs that are configured to illuminate the cap portions 92. According toanother aspect, a variety of other suitable types of illuminationelements may be employed. The cap portions 92 could be configured tolight up in unison with the end portions 88, 90. It will be appreciatedthat the illumination elements 84 could have a variety of differentconfigurations and could be disposed and integrated into the device 26in a variety of suitable ways, including in multiple different locations

It will be appreciated that illumination elements may be incorporatedinto other components in the vehicle wash system that have not beenspecifically described. It will also be appreciated that illuminationelements could be associated with other portions of the vehicle washsystem other than the components. The illumination elements could alsobe associated with other portions of the vehicle wash facility.

FIG. 6 illustrates a lighted sign component 100 for use in connectionwith a vehicle wash system 10 according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure. According to an aspect, the lighted sign component 100 caninclude a base portion 102, a mounting portion 104, and a displayportion 106. According to an aspect, the base portion 102 may have aflat baseplate portion 108 for engaging a flat structure such as groundof a vehicle wash facility. It will be appreciated that the baseplateportion 108 could be configured to engage a variety of other suitablestructures. It will also be appreciated that the lighted sign component100 could be located in a variety of suitable locations throughout thevehicle wash facility. It will also be appreciated that the baseplateportion 108 could have a variety of different configurations.

According to another aspect, the mounting portion 104 may be configuredas a vertical post that may extend generally between the base portion102 and the display portion 106. According to aspect, the mountingportion 104 may include a signpost portion 110 and a cover portion 112that may be disposed over the signpost portion 110. According to anaspect, the cover portion 112 may be constructed of a translucentmaterial. It will be appreciated that the cover portion 112 could beconstructed of a variety of other suitable materials. According to afurther aspect, an illumination element 114 may be in communication withthe signpost portion 110 such that light may be emitted through thecover portion 112 and may be visible from the exterior of the component100. The illumination element 114 may be configured as a flexible LEDstrip that is wrapped around the signpost portion 110. It will beappreciated that a variety of other types of suitable illuminationelements may be employed and that they may be mounted or disposed withinthe mounting portion 104 in a variety of suitable ways. It will also beappreciated that the mounting portion 104 could have a variety ofdifferent configurations. It will be further appreciated that theillumination elements could be disposed in a variety of other locationson the component 100.

According to a further aspect, the display portion 106 may be pivotallyconnected to an upper end of the mounting portion 104. As shown, thedisplay portion 106 may have a generally circular shape with an outerperipheral portion 124 and a middle section 126. According to an aspect,the middle section 126 may be constructed of a translucent material suchas a translucent plastic material and may be configured to emit light.It will be appreciated that the middle section 126 could be constructedof an opaque material that is configured to glow. According to anotheraspect, the middle section 126 may be configured to display lightedindicia, such as signage information 128. This may be accomplished byone or more illumination elements disposed behind the middle section 126as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. This signageinformation 128 could be configured as navigational information that isconveyed to a vehicle occupant, including that it is clear for thevehicle to drive forward or that the vehicle needs to stop. The signageinformation 128 could also be configured as promotional informationabout services the vehicle wash facility has available for the vehicle,such as the various wash packages. It will be appreciated that thesignage information 128 could be configured and utilized to convey avariety of other suitable information.

According to yet another aspect, the outer peripheral portion 124 mayinclude individual illumination elements 130 uniformly dispersedtherearound to provide additional light that may be emitted from thecomponent 100. The illumination elements 130 may be individual LEDs.However, a variety of other suitable light sources may be employed. Aplurality of sections 132 may be included between the illuminationelements 130 that may also be constructed of translucent material. Itwill be appreciated that the outer peripheral portion 124, theillumination elements 130, and the sections 132 may all be colored withthe same light at the same time. Alternatively, each portion may becolored with different lights. It will also be appreciated that some orall of the illumination elements may be configured to flash or blink.Additional description of the structure and operation of this exemplaryilluminated sign component is described in connection with Applicant'sco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/691,614, entitled“Illuminated Sign”, which was filed on ______, 2015, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth fullyherein.

According to an aspect, the system 10 may be configured to illuminatecertain of the treatment components within the facility in selectedareas upon predetermined conditions. According to one exemplary aspect,the system 10 may be configured to illuminate certain of the treatmentcomponents and/or illumination elements located within the vehicle washfacility to provide a vehicle occupant with feedback and confirmationthat the wash package that they selected is actually being performed ontheir vehicle.

In accordance with a method and system of the present disclosure, when avehicle arrives at the vehicle wash facility, the vehicle can encountera package purchase zone 150 where a vehicle operator is presented withvarious treatment packages and associated prices for treatment of thevehicle. The various treatment options may be presented to the vehicleoccupant in a variety of different ways. According to one aspect, theymay be presented to the vehicle occupant on a display screen, a menuboard, or a variety of other suitable ways. An exemplary menu board isschematically depicted in FIG. 7 as reference number 152. Once thevehicle operator has decided which vehicle treatment package topurchase, they may indicate their package selection in a variety ofdifferent ways. According to one aspect, the vehicle operator may stopat an operator station, generally designated by reference number 154,and convey their package selection to an operator who will manuallyinput that selection into a computer or controller to start the process.According to another aspect, the vehicle operator may enter theirselection electronically such as on an electronic terminal that alsoallows for electronic selection and payment at that terminal. Once theirselection is input, the controller 38 can track that operator's vehicleas it travels throughout the wash process and can direct that theservices associated with the package selected by the operator beperformed.

With reference to FIG. 7, the disclosed vehicle wash system 10 can offervarious treatment packages that are identified by different identifiersand each have different services associated therewith. As discussedabove, these may be presented on a menu board or display. According toan aspect, the primary identifier associated with the various treatmentpackages of the present disclosure may be a color. For example, withreference to FIG. 7, the Base package, as generally indicated byreference number 156, may be identified as the White package and may bedesignated by the color white or no color. The Red package, whichincludes additional wash services over the White package, is generallyindicated by reference number 158, and may be designated by the colorred. The Blue package, which includes additional wash services over andabove the White package and the Red package, is generally identified byreference number 160, and may be designated by the color blue. The Greenpackage, which can include the most wash services of the variouspackages available, is generally identified by reference number 162, andmay be designated by the color green. It will be appreciated that moreor less packages may be presented to vehicle occupants. It will also beappreciated that the various packages can be assigned any color or anyother identifier.

According to an aspect and with continued reference to FIG. 7, theservices offered with the Base package are a standard wash and mayinclude a pre-prep service, which is generally by reference number 164.According to another aspect, with the Red package the vehicle occupantcan also get the pre-prep wash 164 along with additional services,including body bubbles, identified generally by reference number 166,sparkle wash, generally identified by reference number 168, and superdry, generally identified by reference number 170. As will beappreciated, the vehicle occupant may elect to purchase the Red packagefor an additional fee over and above the fee for Base package.

Further, with the Blue package, the vehicle occupant may receiveadditional services in addition to those offered with the Red package,including undercarriage cleaning, generally identified by referencenumber 172, wheel cleaning services, generally identified by referencenumber 174, body sealant, generally identified by reference number 176,and tire shine services, generally identified by reference number 178.According to an aspect, the vehicle occupant may purchase the Bluepackage for a fee that is greater than the Red package.

According to a further aspect, the Green package offers the vehicleoccupant the most services. According to an aspect, the Green packagescan offer the vehicle occupant all the same services available with theRed package as well as an additional polish wax service, generallyidentified by reference number 180.

According to an aspect, once the vehicle occupant has selected the colorpackage option and that selection has been entered into and recognizedby the computer system, the vehicle wash system 10 can be coordinatedsuch that the color of the illumination elements associated with thevarious treatment components matches the color of the vehicle owner'sselected package. In other words, the colors emitted from the lightsources may be coordinated with a customer's package purchase. Accordingto an aspect, the controller 38 could also be in communication with theillumination elements to control their operation and match their colorto the color assigned to the selected package option. For example, thecontroller 38 may operate all the illumination elements in accordancewith a DMX protocol. According to another aspect, a separate DMXcontroller could be utilized to control the lighting of the illuminationelements. The DMX controller could be employed as a laptop. The DMXcontroller could also include software that allows the controller toaccomplish the functionality described herein. The DMX controller couldtake on a variety of other configurations.

According to an aspect, after the vehicle occupant's package selectionpurchase has been entered into the system, the vehicle can proceedthrough the entrance end 16 of the vehicle wash facility 14. Accordingto an aspect, the controller 38 together with the sensors and otherdevices can track the location of the vehicle within the wash system 10.According to a further aspect, the vehicle 12 can travel to a firstvehicle zone 190. According to an aspect, the lights on all of thecomponents in and adjacent the first vehicle zone 190 can be illuminatedwith a color that matches the package selection by the vehicle occupant.Thus, if the vehicle occupant selected the “Blue” package, theillumination elements of all of the components in or adjacent the firstvehicle zone 190 can emit a blue light as controlled by the controller38 to provide visual confirmation to the vehicle occupant that they aregetting the proper vehicle treatment services that they selected andpaid for. It will be appreciated that the illumination elements can beassociated with the first vehicle zone 190 in other ways other than withthe components, including signs and displays.

According to another aspect, as the vehicle 12 proceeds into a secondvehicle zone 192, the illumination elements of the components in thesecond vehicle zone 192 may be illuminated in the color blue to matchthat of the vehicle occupant's blue package selection. According toanother aspect, as the vehicle 12 proceeds into a third vehicle zone194, the controller 38 can direct the illumination elements on thecomponents in the third vehicle zone 194 to emit a color matching thevehicle occupant's section, which according to this example is blue.According to a still further aspect, as the vehicle 12 proceeds into afourth vehicle zone 196, the illumination elements of the components inthe fourth vehicle zone 196 may be illuminated in a color to match thatof the vehicle occupant's package selection as directed by thecontroller 38. It will be appreciated that the vehicle wash system 10could be divided or broken down into more or less zones. It will also beappreciated that fewer than all of the components in a particular zonecould be directed to emit light in a color matching that of the vehicleoccupant's selection. It will also be appreciated that the illuminationelements need not be associated with the component, but could otherwisebe associated with the various vehicle zones.

According to another aspect, the controller 38 may control the lightingof the components within the vehicle wash system 10 to handle multiplevehicles within the wash system 10 at a given time at least two of whichmay have selected different packages. For example, a first vehicleoccupant could enter the package purchase zone 150 and select the Redcolored package. After the fee is paid for this package, it could beentered into the system and recognized by the controller 38. As thefirst vehicle proceeds toward the first vehicle zone 190, theillumination elements associated with the first vehicle zone 190 can becolored red to match that vehicle's package selection. According to anaspect as the first vehicle enters the first vehicle zone 190, a secondvehicle can enter the package purchase zone 150.

In this example, the second vehicle 12 may select to have the Greenpackage option for treatment of their vehicle. Again, after payment isreceived, this can be entered into the system and recognized by thecontroller 38. As the first vehicle proceeds into the second vehiclezone 192, the illumination elements in that zone can be colored red tocorrespond to the package selection of the first vehicle. At the sametime, the controller 38 can direct that the illumination elements in thefirst vehicle zone 190 be colored green so that they match the color ofthe package selection made by the second vehicle which has just enteredthe first vehicle zone 190. With the first vehicle in the second vehiclezone 192 and the second vehicle in the first vehicle zone 190, a thirdvehicle can enter the package purchase zone 150 and select a packageoption for treatment of their vehicle. According to this example, thethird vehicle can select a Blue package.

According to this example, as the first vehicle 12 moves to the thirdvehicle zone 194, the illumination elements associated with that zonecan be colored red to match the package selection made by the vehicleoccupant. Also, as the second vehicle 12 moves to the second vehiclezone 192, the illumination elements associated with that zone can now becolored green to correspond to the package selection made by the secondvehicle occupant. Additionally, as the third vehicle 12 moves into thefirst vehicle zone 190, the illumination elements associated with thatzone can be colored blue to match that vehicle's package selection.

Continuing further with this example, as the first vehicle moves to thefourth vehicle zone 196, the illumination elements associated with thatzone may be colored red to match that vehicle's package selection. Asthe second vehicle 12 moves to the third vehicle zone 194, theillumination elements associated with that zone can now be colored greento correspond to this vehicle's package selection. Also, as the thirdvehicle 12 moves to the second vehicle zone 192, the illuminationelements associated with that zone can now be colored blue.

As the first vehicle 12 leaves the vehicle wash system 10 through theexit end 18, the second vehicle can move into the fourth vehicle zone196. As the second vehicle moves into the fourth vehicle zone 196, theillumination elements associated with that zone can be colored green asdirected by the controller 38. At the same time, the third vehicle canthen move into the third vehicle zone 194 where the illuminationelements can be colored blue. As the second vehicle exits the facilitythrough the exit end 18, the third vehicle 12 can move to the fourthvehicle zone 196 where the illumination elements can be colored blue.The third vehicle can then also leave out of the exit end 18. It will beappreciated that the system 10 could be employed with more or lessvehicles which have selected the same or different packages.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustratively showing a method of packageconfirmation according to an aspect. As shown, according to an aspect,the system can detect a packages selection option from a vehicle owneras generally indicated by reference number 200. If the system detects aselection of a White package, as generally indicated by reference number202, the White mode of the illumination elements is enabled as generallyindicated by reference number 204. Upon the White mode being enabled,the illumination elements can emit light in a white color, as generallyindicated by reference number 206.

According to another aspect, if the system detects a selection of a Redpackage, as generally indicated by reference number 210, the Red mode ofthe illumination elements is enabled as generally indicated by referencenumber 212. Upon the Red mode being enabled, the illumination elementscan emit light in a red color, as generally indicated by referencenumber 214. According to a further aspect, if the system detects aselection of a Blue package, as generally indicated by reference number220, the Blue mode of the illumination elements is enabled as generallyindicated by reference number 222. Upon the Blue mode being enabled, theillumination elements can emit light in a blue color, as generallyindicated by reference number 224. According to yet another aspect, ifthe system detects a selection of a Green package, as generallyindicated by reference number 230, the Green mode of the illuminationelements is enabled as generally indicated by reference number 232. Uponthe Green mode being enabled, the illumination elements can emit lightin a green color, as generally indicated by reference number 234.

According to another aspect, the lighting system could be configured sothat the light sources emit colors for useful proposes as opposed to forprimarily aesthetic purposes. According to another aspect, the lightsources could be programmed to emit colors for navigation purposes, suchas red when a vehicle operator should stop and green when it is clearfor the vehicle to proceed. According to a further aspect, the lightsources could employ the RGB color model, where red, green, and bluelight are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array ofcolors, as is known.

According to an aspect, the light sources on several of the rotarycomponents, such as the components in a particular vehicle zone, may beconfigured to separately emit lights of different colors sequentially.According to another aspect, the light sources may each be incommunication with the controller 38 so that they may be programmed toemit the same color from each of the components in synchronization orunison. According to another aspect, the controller 38 could beprogrammed to emit colors in a particular pattern or sequence. Forexample, the following color sequence could be emitted from eachcomponent: blue, followed by red, followed by green, followed by yellow.It will be appreciated that different colors could be emitted from thecomponents in different orders. For example, if the RGB color sequenceis employed, an infinite number of colors could be created and emittedfrom the light sources in a controlled fashion. According to an aspect,controlling light sources such that colored lights from variouscomponents are emitted in unison or simultaneous provides significantaesthetic benefits. This is compared to each illumination element beingcontrolled individually where they are not in unison, which can be verydistracting.

It will also be appreciated that various combinations of colors or evenmultiple colors could be emitted from each component at the same time.According to a still further aspect, the controller 38 could beconfigured to emit different colors from each of the components at thesame time. It will be appreciated that any sequence, order or placementof colors may be employed. According to an aspect, emitting differentcolors from the light sources in a controlled pattern is considered farmore attractive then emitting the colors in a random fashion.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the controller 38 could beconfigured to vary the pattern of colors utilized within the system at apredetermined time. For example, the controller 38 could be emitted tovary the pattern based on a time trigger, i.e., the pattern could changeevery hour. According to an aspect, the controller could be configuredto change the pattern based on another event, such as the location of avehicle. The controller could be configured to switch from one patternto another based on a variety of different events or triggers. Accordingto a further aspect, the controller 38 could be configured to switchfrom one controlled pattern to another pattern randomly.

In addition to colored patterns, the controller 38 could be configuredto create other effects with the lights, including flashing the lightsin a pattern. The lights could also be dimmed or have a variety of othereffects.

According to yet another aspect, one or more bubble light sources couldbe disposed adjacent the bubble device 26 to project light onto thebubbles emitted therefrom. Again, these bubble light sources could beconfigured to emit light in a multitude of different colors. It will beappreciated that the bubble light sources could also be in communicationwith the controller 38 such that these bubble light sources could besynchronized with the light sources associated with the other componentssuch that they all emit the same color at the same time. Again,according to another aspect, the bubble light sources could beconfigured to emit different colors than those emitted from the othercomponents at the same or different times. Again, the bubble lightsources and the component light sources could be configured to emitcolors in any respective combination.

According to another aspect, the system may be configured to illuminatethe lighting elements on certain of the treatment components and/orwithin the facility upon other predetermined conditions being met ordetermined. For example, with reference to FIG. 9, the controller 38 maybe in communication with various input sources, such as motion sensorsor the like, to determine whether or not any vehicles are located in thevehicle treatment area or may be approaching the vehicle treatment area,as generally indicated by reference number 250. It will be appreciatedthat the controller may receive inputs from a variety of differentsources to assist with the determination of whether or not vehicles arein or approaching the vehicle treatment area. In the instance where novehicles are located in the vehicle treatment area and/or approachingthe vehicle treatment area, the controller 38 may place the system intoan active site marketing mode, as generally indicated by referencenumber 252. In the active site marketing mode, some or all of the lightson the various vehicle wash components, as discussed above, may besignaled to illuminate in an effort to draw attention to the vehiclewash system and its services and thereby draw customers to thefacilities. This active site marketing mode can be used to increaserevenue for the facility. According to another aspect, the controller 38could enable the active site marketing mode based on a variety of otherinputs or ways, including time. According to another aspect, thecontroller 38 can be in communication with other effects that can beactuated when the active site marketing mode is enabled, such as music.

According to an aspect, in active site marketing mode, the controller 38may utilize the lighting elements within the facility to put on a lightshow according to a preselected program, as generally indicated byreference number 254. According to one aspect, the controller 38 couldbe configured to cycle the lights on the various components between thevarious RGB colors available. For example, the controller 38 may beprogrammed such that in the active site marketing mode, it cyclesbetween red, blue, green, yellow (red+green), purple (red+blue), cyan(green+blue) and white (red+green+blue). Alternatively, the controller38 could be configured to cycle the lighting elements through less thanall of these colors or in a variety of different patterns. It will alsobe appreciated that the controller 38 could be programmed to employvariations of these colors by changing the intensity of the primarycolors, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art toachieve an almost unlimited number of different colors. According to afurther aspect, in the active site marketing mode, the controller 38 maybe configured to have the lights blink, flash or employ a variety ofdifferent effects. It will further be appreciated that the effects mayvary and that different components may have different effects asdesired. It will also be appreciated that the active site marketing modemay have different profiles that can result in different light shows.For example, there can be a summer schedule, a winter schedule or aholiday schedule (i.e. Christmas or Halloween) that when enabled candisplay a light show tailored to that particular event or schedule. Avariety of other schedules may also be employed including bearing colorsfor a local sports team or university on game day or other specialevent. It will also be appreciated that the controller 38 can beprogrammed to illuminate the lights in colors that are randomlydetermined.

According to a still further aspect and as discussed above, thecontroller 38 can be configured during the active site marketing mode toilluminate lights on the various components that make up the vehiclewash system while the components are rotating. This can serve to furtherdraw attention to the vehicle wash facility and its services, includingafter hours. Alternatively, the lights may be illuminated while thecomponents are at rest. It will also be appreciated in accordance withthe disclosure herein, that lights may be employed in a variety of otherlocations in addition to or instead of on the components.

The active site marketing mode can serve to draw attention to thevehicle wash facility and advertise to the public, including passingvehicles, that the facility is a vehicle wash and provides washservices. According to another aspect, when a vehicle is sensed asarriving, the controller 38 may disable active site marketing mode andenable operator mode, as generally indicated by reference number 256,which allows an operator to select a vehicle wash package for a user.The controller can then display the lights on the vehicle washcomponents according to a package confirmation mode, as discussed above.It will be appreciated that active site marketing can operate at alltime and may operate independently of package confirmation or any otherfeature.

According to a further aspect, the controller 38 may be configured toenable active site marketing mode within a predetermined period of novehicle being sensed at the vehicle wash. It will be appreciated thatactive site marketing mode can be enabled based on a variety of otherinputs or criteria. For example, it may be manually triggered by anoperator by toggling a switch. It can also be accomplished from a remoteinput, such as through a mobile device configured to communicate withthe controller 38.

According to another aspect, the controller 38 may utilize the lights tocommunicate information about the wash system and its components to theoperators, including diagnostic information. As is known, vehicle washsystems employ controllers that constantly monitor the system and itsoperation. To the extent something with the system is not operating asexpected or requires attention, these controllers can generate a faultcode. The fault code can be a critical one that requires the system tobe shut down or a non-critical one that requires some attention on thepart of the operator, but does not require the system to be shut down.Typically, vehicle wash systems employ humans at the front and back ofthe system and thus they are not able to see if there is anythingirregular going on with the wash and/or generally do not have line ofsight with the controller to see or hear any alarms that may betriggered by the controller in the event a fault is detected. As such,the controller typically generates a fault code and transmits this codeto an operator so they may take action. However, operators may notalways notice or respond to the message immediately, particularly ifthey are not at the facility or if the fault is of the non-criticaltype.

According to this aspect of the disclosure and with reference to FIG.10, the controller 38 may be in communication with various sensors andinputs in order to evaluate the operation of the system, as generallyindicated by reference number 300. In the event the controller 38identifies a fault, as generally indicated by reference number 302, itcan be configured to enable a fault mode, as generally indicated byreference number 304.

According to a further aspect, in the fault mode, the controller 38 canbe configured to illuminate lights within the vehicle wash facility,including the lights on the vehicle wash components to communicateinformation about the fault to operators. According to an exemplaryaspect, if the fault is a critical fault requiring a system shut down oran emergency system shut down, as generally indicated by referencenumber 306, the controller 38 may be configured to illuminate the lightson the components “red”, as generally indicated by reference number 308.The controller 38 may also be configured to have the lights flash orblink. In addition to illuminating the lights in a red color, thecontroller 38 can also be configured to shut the system down entirely toallow the fault to be addressed. The blinking red lights can alert thevehicle operator to attend to the fault. It will be appreciated that thecontroller 38 can also be configured to send specific fault informationto the operator, such as by e-mail or text, so that the operator hasspecific information about the nature of the fault and can quicklyresolve the fault or take other action as may be necessary. It will beappreciated that a variety of different sensed conditions can cause thecontroller 38 to trigger a critical fault, such as contact between avehicle and a wash component. It will also be appreciated that thecontroller can be configured to illuminate lights in different colorsfor different critical faults or employ different lighting effects fordifferent critical faults to convey more specific information to anoperator regarding the fault based on the lighting elements alone. Forexample, one type of critical fault may cause the lights to flash redwhile another may cause the lights have a specific pattern of flashingred that will be recognizable to the wash operator.

In the event the controller 38 identifies a fault as a non-criticalfault, as generally indicated by reference number 310, the controller 38can then enable the non-critical fault mode, as generally indicated byreference number 312. According to an aspect, a non-critical fault maybe one that is important and requires action, but does not require shutdown of the system. An exemplary non-critical fault condition may be adetermination that the supply of chemicals is low and requiresrefilling. In the event such a non-critical fault is determined, thecontroller 38 may be configured to cause the lights on the vehicle washcomponents to flash in a color yellow. Again, it will be appreciatedthat a variety of other conditions that are input into the controller 38may cause it to enable the non-critical fault mode. It will further beappreciated that the color assigned to the lights and or the lightingeffect may obviously vary for different non-critical fault conditions.Additionally, it will be appreciated that the fault mode may be atemporary condition that the controller implements on some lights orsome components. The fault mode may supplement or supplant the operatingmode, including the package confirmation mode, discussed above.

According to still another aspect, once the controller 38 senses that afault condition no longer exists, it can be configured to emit an allclear signal, as generally indicated by reference number 314. This canbe accomplished by flashing the lights in the system green. According toan example, when the controller 38 senses that two vehicles beingtreated by the system may be in too close of proximity to one another,the controller can enable the non-critical fault mode. Under thisexample, lights associated with some or all of the various systemcomponents may be configured to blink a color, such as blue. They mayremain blinking this color until the controller senses that the faultcondition has been rectified. In that event, the controller 38 may thenemit the all clear signal and flash the lights that were blinking blue agreen color.

According to an aspect, the utilization of the controller in thisfashion can allow the car wash to be self-monitoring and also performself-diagnostics. The controller can then communicate the information ithas sensed or determined from the various inputs it monitors to washoperators and employees by coloring the lights with specific colors andeffects that have been pre-assigned to be associated with certain faultconditions. This can allow the operators and employees to take anynecessary action that may be required as a result of the fault conditionin a prompt manner to minimize any down time of the system.

The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described hereinare intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of thevarious embodiments. The specification and illustrations are notintended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of allof the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use thestructures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may beapparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure.Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such thata structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change maybe made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly,the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

Certain features are, for clarity, described herein in the context ofseparate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a singleembodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity,described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be providedseparately or in any sub combination. Further, reference to valuesstated in ranges includes each and every value within that range.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeature of any or all the claims.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any andall such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fallwithin the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extentallowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determinedby the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims andtheir equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by theforegoing detailed description.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

1. A vehicle wash system disposed in a vehicle wash facility, comprising: a plurality of vehicle wash components disposed adjacent a vehicle treatment area; a plurality of lights disposed in the vehicle wash facility, each of the lights having at least a first state; a controller in communication with each of the plurality of lights and configured to enable the first state of the plurality of lights when no vehicles are present in the vehicle wash facility; and wherein in the first state, the plurality of lights are configured to emit light in a preprogrammed pattern of different colors.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a detection mechanism in communication with the controller and configured to provide information as to a presence of a vehicle within the vehicle wash facility.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection mechanism includes a mechanism configured to receive of a wash selection by a user, which wash selection is communicated to the controller.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection mechanism includes one or more motion sensors, which are in communication with the controller.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed on the plurality of vehicle wash components.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed on the plurality of vehicle wash components such that the plurality of lights rotate as the components rotate.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of lights consist of LED strips.
 8. The system of 5, wherein the vehicle wash components are selected from one or more of the following: a side brush, a top brush, a wrap brush, a wheel cleaner, a rinse arch, and a foam generation device.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights have a second state and wherein the controller is further configured to enable a second state of the plurality of lights when one or more vehicles is present in the vehicle wash facility.
 10. A vehicle wash system for a vehicle wash system, comprising: a first vehicle wash component having a first illumination source disposed thereon, the first illumination source having a first wash mode of operation and a first marketing mode of operation; a second vehicle wash component having a second illumination source disposed thereon, the second illumination source having a second wash mode of operation and a second marketing mode of operation; and a controller in communication with the first illumination source and the second illumination source, the controller configured to enable the first wash mode of operation and the second wash mode of operation when one or more vehicles are present in the vehicle wash facility and further configured to enable the first marketing mode of operation and the second marketing mode of operation when no vehicles are present in the vehicle wash facility.
 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a detection mechanism in communication with the controller and configured to provide information as to a presence of a vehicle within the vehicle wash facility.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the detection mechanism includes a mechanism configured to receive of a wash selection by a user, which wash selection is communicated to the controller.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the detection mechanism includes one or more motion sensor, which are in communication with the controller.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed on the plurality of vehicle wash components such that the plurality of lights rotate as the components rotate.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of lights consist of LED strips.
 16. The system of 14, wherein the vehicle wash components are selected from one or more of the following: a side brush, a top brush, a wrap brush, a wheel cleaner, a rinse arch, and a foam generation device.
 17. A vehicle wash system, comprising: a vehicle wash facility including a vehicle treatment area; a plurality of lights disposed adjacent the vehicle treatment area; at least one detection mechanism for providing information about the presence of a vehicle in proximity to the vehicle treatment area; a controller in communication with the plurality of lights and configured to enable a marketing mode of the plurality of lights when no vehicles are located in proximity to the vehicle treatment area, wherein in the marketing mode the plurality of lights emit a designed pattern created with RGB.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of lights are located on one or more vehicle wash components configured to engage and treat a vehicle exterior while in the vehicle treatment area.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed on the one or more vehicle wash components and configured to rotate as the vehicle wash component rotates during operation.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the detection mechanism includes a mechanism configured to receive of a wash selection by a user, which wash selection is communicated to the controller.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the detection mechanism includes one or more motion sensors, which are in communication with the controller.
 22. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lights consist of LED strips.
 23. The system of 19, wherein the vehicle wash components are selected from one or more of the following: a side brush, a top brush, a wrap brush, a wheel cleaner, a rinse arch, and a foam generation device. 